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Match - Wed 19 September, 20:45,
| Goals | Goals |
|---|---|
| 16. Michael Carrick (7’) |
Nervy win for United
Manchester United's Michael Carrick goes round Galatasary goalkeeper Nestor Fernando Muslera and scores their first goal of the game
Michael Carrick’s early goal was enough to separate the teams, though the Turkish visitors put up a spirited performance and deserved more from the game.
United survived an early penalty scare when Umut Bulut was tripped by Nemanja Vidic in the 18-yard area, but German referee Wolfgang Stark ignored Gala’s pleas for a spot kick.
The hosts then opened the scoring on seven minutes through Michael Carrick, who started and finished a slick passing move, netting after rounding goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to make it 1-0.
The Turks almost levelled the scored just three minutes later through Nordin Amrabat, who found shooting space after a quick counter attack and clipped the top of the crossbar.
The Red Devils created some half chances in the remainder of the first half, but they struggled to produce final balls or shots of enough quality to really open up Galatasaray’s well-organised backline.
The visitors hit the woodwork again on 39 minutes, with Hamit Altintop clipping the outside of the near post after a cleverly-worked free kick that handed the former Real Madrid man acres of space to get away a shot.
United should have doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty after Burak Yilmaz tripped Rafael, but Nani’s spot kick was well saved by Muslera.
On 71 minutes Patrice Evra came close to scoring a rare goal, with his effort flashing across the face of goal, and then it was the turn of Gala to be denied by a tremendous double save from David De Gea, who kept out successive efforts from Aydin Yilmaz and Emre Colak.
United were able to see out the remainder of the game and came close to scoring a second in the early moments of injury time when substitute Javier Hernandez rounded the goalkeeper but saw his goal-bound effort blocked by a defender.
BRAVO MAN UNITED 4 A GOOD START. KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD. VASCO H. SIAFA FROM LIBERIA
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